Method of and apparatus for treating steel



Jane 3 1924. 1,496,531

C. A. EWING METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING STEEL Filed Dec. 23. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet l atbouyai June s, 1924. 1,496,531

C. A. EWING METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING STEEL Filed Dec. 23. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MF/Ew@ @trouwen c. A. EWING METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS F'OR TREATING STEEL June 3 v192.4.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 n Filed Dec. 23, 1920 FIG. 5.

FlG. 7-

flibozmg Patented June 3, 1924s To srares cHARLEs A. swine, or STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD AND APlPARA'lUS FOR TREATING- STEEL.

Application filed December 23, 1920. Serial No. 432,759.

To all wioiii ift may coacewu Be it known that l, CHARLES A. EWING,

a citizen ot the United States of Ame-rica,

residing at Steelton, in the county of Dau- 5 phin and State oi Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus-'for Treating Steel, of which the following is a specifica-tion.

This invention has reference to a new and improved method and apparatus `tor treatingsteel, and more especially steel rails 'for railways and tramways wherein the rails are tempered to produce an unusually `l5 hard and tough'or sorb'itic rail head to the exclusion'o'f all brittleness and faulty microstructure.

One of the objects of the invention embodies an improved method and apparatus l for hardening steel rails wherein the hardening medium, Vwhich may' be air,I ngaso'r .elastic fluid is caused to vmove during the treatment ot the rail.

Another object of the invention resides l in the method of and apparatus tor continuously moving the rai-l during thefhardening treatment thereof with the hardening,T medium also movable to form a continuous uninterrupted treatment ot t-he rails.

The apparatus employed for carrying the method into operation embodies a moving receptacle containing the hardening medium with the rails automatically clamped thereto in a manner to presentthe head 'of the railA Vfor direct contact by the hardening medium during` the entire period that the 'rail is clamped to the receptacle.

nother object accomplished by the apparatus has reference to the manner of clamping the rail to the receptacle to provide a substantially confined pocket for the head of the rail to cause an even distribution oil the hardening medium, such as air` gas or elastic fluid over the entire head of the rail.

A. furthenobject ofthe apparatus em'- ployed is to 4provide automatically operated releasing valves to permit the hardening medium to iow in contact with the rail immediately-upon the clamping of the rail to the support containing the hardening medium with a subsequent automatically closing operation of the valves when the rails are delivered from the support.

A further Aobject of the invention is to provideaimachine oi device for hardening yrails whereina rotatable receptacle or casing containing. the hardening medium is provided with a. plurality ot automatically operating rail engaging clamps for maintaining the rails secured to the casing during partial rotation thereof.

A still v:further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for hardening' steel rails wherein a rotatable receptacle containing the hardening medium has rails automatically clamped thereto during a portion 'ot the rotation of the receptacle with a plurality ot valves adapted to be opened during the clamping movement of the rails -tofthe casing tol permit the flow of harden- 'ingv medium 1n the casing direct to the being' illustrated a rotatable casing or receptacle oi' oval formation with the valves controlling the How of the hardening medium at the upper side-thereot opened and the lowervalves closed,

Figure 2 is aiifend elevationalview ot' the machine showing the operating cam for closing the rail clamping arms and the air pipe, f

Figure 3 is a verticalcross sec-tional view of the machine shown in Fig. l, f

' Figure. 4 is a detail sectional view showing the cam and rodfoperating thereby for.

shifting the rail clamps,

Figure 5 is a detail Sectional viewshowing a. portion of the rotatable 'receptacle and one of the control valves for the hardening medium, the stem ot the valve projecting slightly beyond the rail supporting Webs,

Figure 6 is a. fragmentary plan view showing one of the rail clamps, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view ot a portion of the. receptacle showing the longitudinal pocket receiving the head ot the rail With the supporting Webs of the rail head and the passa-ge openings in the. bottom Wall of the pocket.

In the art to which this invention relates, steel rails have been tempered by many methods to produce a hard and tough rail head and the absence oit all brittleness and flaws in the structure ot the rail. such methods employing the submersion of the heated rails in Huid solutions and also by the application(` When the rails are heated above the critical temperature, ot air, gas 0r elastic fluids. ln the latter method it has heretofore been customary to provide a stationary air or gas supply pipe line with devices for moving the rail in proximity ot the pipe line With the subsequent spreading over the surface of the rail the hardening fluid. Consideraole difliculty eucoimtercd in han-- dling the rails and moving` the saine into position for treatment in this necesa ivhile a considerable quantity ot the hardening medium is lost in view of the spreading thereof.

The present; invention aims to overcome all of these difficulties, and embodies a novel method of treating the rails for hardening and a new apparatus for carrying the method into operation. Briefly described, the method expressed in this application provides for the continuous movement of the rail during the hardening process and also a continuous movement ot the casing or receptacle containing the tempering medium during the tempering process.

lt is not intended to limit thi-s invention to any particular direction of movement given the rails and hardening medium during the hardening process, but there is shown in the accompanying drawings 'for purposes of illustration only, a rotatable receptacle having the. hardening medium delivered thereto and confined therein under the control of valve devices. A plurality ot rail clamps are carried by the peripheral Wall of the receptacle and are operated4 under the influence oli' a cam and lever arrangement Whereby the rails are received in the clamps and automatically moved home on the receptacle by the cam to be so retained during one-half revolution 'of the receptacle, the cam operating to permit the release otthe clamps at the end of the travel of the rails at which time the rails are delivered from the receptacle. The outer Wall of the receptacle is provided with plurality of spaced longitudinally eX- tending pockets or cavities for receiving and supporting the rail heads. The valve devices, each carry an elongated stem extending radially of the receptacle and into the adjacent pocket to be engaged by the rail head when clamped to the receptacle to open the valve and permit the flouT of the hardening medium directly onto the rail head. The pocket is so constructed as to provide a substantial confining area for the hardening medium to insure an even distribution oit the hardening medium over thel entire rail head. The valve devices being` automatically opened by the clamping home ot the rails, the same are automatically closed When the rails are released from the receptacle so that a wasteful escape of the hardening medium is eliminated. ln the manufacture of steel rails, the same are preformed prior to hardening by passing through suitable roll machines to provide a camber or arcuate bend in the rail with the inner circle oi' the arc lying in the rail base. ln this invention the rails are reversely cambered so that the rail section embodying the greatest area, i. e., the head lies in the inner arc and to compensate for this curvature, the rotatable receptacle for supporting the rails during the hardening thereot has a central bilge tapering toward the opposite endsv` although it is not essential in carrying the method expressed in this application into operation to provide the oval receptacle as a receptacle including a cylindrical Wall may as Well be adapted for the purpose.

lt being understood that the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings shows only one embodiment thereof, such showing comprises in del ail the provision of a base supporting 'tranne including end standards l and Q vfith the connecting foot plate P. lf desired, the rotating receptacle supported in tht` end standards may be slightly varied in construction to provide for intermediate supports when the receptacle is constructed of unusual length. The receptacle construction is Shown more clearly in Figs. l and 5 to 7. the same embodying end Walls 4 and 5 connected by an oval receptacle wall 6. The end Wall 5 carries a stub shaft l' mounted in a journal bearing 8 in the upper end of the standard Q with the inner end of the stub shaft extending inwardly of the end Wall 5, hollowed to provide a cup bearing 9 for purposes presently to appear.` The support tor the end Wall 4f includes a bearing flange l0 through which a pipe ll extends ivith a packing bearing l0 between the Wall flange l0 and the pipe ll. A packing gland 19, surroundingthe pipe ll at the outer side of the Wall lconlines the ball bearings i3 between the paci-ting gland and the flange '10 so that the easing may freely rotate on the pipe with an air tight connection between the casing flange 16 and the pipe. The outer end vof the air pipe is rigidly secured in the bearing 14 at the upper end of the standard tic fluid into the chamber 16 of the receptacle. The rotation of the receptacle is effected by a power shaft 17 carrying a gear 18 meshing with a relatively large gear 20 upon the stub axle 7 so that the receptacle is rotated at a relatively7 low rate of speed. Vhile a gearing connection between the power shaft and casing is illustrated, it is understood that other forms of power transmission mechanism may be employed such as pulleys upon the shafts 7 and 17 with a connecting belt.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the receptacle is divided into chambers 16 and 21 and 21'"t by the cylindrical partition wall 22 surrounding` the pipe 11 and spaced from the wall 6, the ends of the cylindrical partition wall being integral with or otherwise fixed to the ends walls 4 and 5, a circular partition 23 formed midway the end walls 4 andl 5 providing for the separate outer chambers 21 and 21a. y

To confine the hardening medium within the chamber 16 received from the pipe 11 and to regulate the fiow thereof to the. outer chambers 21 and21a the cylindrical partition 22 is provided with a plurality of spaced valve openings 24 closed by a disk valve 25 carrying a stem 26 upon the inner end thereof surrounded by a coil spring 27 engaging at its inner end an abutment 28 fixed to the wall 22 and through which abutment the stem 26 is adapted to project upon opening movement of the valve as shown in Fig. 1, each valve carrying an outwardly directed stem 29 projecting through a perforation 30 in the receptacle wall 6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 for purposes presently to appear. It will be seen, from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the opening of certain valves will cause the fluid in the chamber 16 to pass into either or both of the outer chambers 21 and 21a. I

The rails upon the hot bed are delivered to the machine and are picked up by the clamping arms and delivered to the receptacle to be carried thereby during partial rotation of the receptacle, the clamping arms each including a lever 31 pivotally mounted upon a support 32 carried by the outer face of the receptacle wall 6 with the free vswinging end 33 thereof fashioned to receive the base flanges of a rail. As shown in Figs. 2te 4 the receptacle wall 6 is provided with longitudinally extending peripherally spaced and inwardly directed surface depression walls 34 adjacent the clamp pivots 32 with a longitudinally extending shaft 35 disposed in each depression and journaled in the end walls 4 and 5 ofthe receptacle. At intervals, disks 36 spaced inwardly of the longitudinally alined clamp arms 31 are fixed to the shaft 35 and are operatively associated with the clamps 31 by radial rods 37, each pivoted to the side face of the adj accnt disk 36 and extending through a slot 38 in the clamp arm 31. A head 39 is carried by the outer end of each rod 37 and the rod, .between the head and clamp arm is surrounded by a compression coil spring 40 normally forcing the clamp arm 31 toward the wall 6 of the receptacle and limited by the radial lugs 41 on the rod 37 inwardly of the clamp arm. The clamp arins 31 associated with a single shaft 35 are simultaneously operated upon rotation of the shaft, the shaft adj acent the end wall 4 extending outwardly thereof and carrying a lateral arm 42 with a short' end rod 43 extending parallel with the shaft 35 and having upon the free end thereof a roller 44 forfengagementwith a cam 45 fixed to the stationarypipe 11. Upon rotation of the casing within the bearing 8 and upon the pipe 11 at the opposite end o`f the casing the shafts 35 moving with the casing present the rollers 44 upon the ends thereof for engagement with the cam 45 and lthe open position at the lowei side of Fig. 2

with the casing rotating in the direction of the arrow, the clamping arms move upwardly between the rails of the hot bed A and receive a rail B in the clamp end 33 and upon continued movement the cam surface 45b of the cam 45 moves the arms 42 to rotate the shafts 35 to move the arms and rails supported therein toward the receptacle. The head of he rail is positioned adjacent the wall 6 and is received in a longitul .dinal pocket formed by spaced radial ribs 46 extending between the eind walls 4 and 5 of the yreceptacle and connected by transverse webs 47 between which an opening 48 As shown 1n Figs.

in the wall 6 is formed. 1, 3 and 5, the ou'terstem 29 of the valve 25 projects into the pocket between the side ribs 46 with the outer ends `thereof terminating in a lane slighly outwardly of the up- ,y per surfa es of the connecting webs 47 of the ribs. lllhen the clamps move inwardly to vard the receptacle to place the head ot the rail B between the ribs 4G 'tor support on the Webs 47 the outer ends of the valve stems 99 are engaged by the rails to torce the valve stems inwardly and remove the valves from the seats 24 against the face et' the valve springs 2T. The hardening inedi um Within the chamber 16 passes into the outer chambers 2l and 21' for passage through the receptacle Wall openings 48 for direct impinging against the head ot the rail, the rail comparatively closingT the outer open side ot the spaced ribs 46. The hardening medium is contined Within the pocket formed by the ribs to thoroughly quench the rail head and escape laterally thereof. The rotation ot the receptacle may be timed to permit the temperature ot the rails to fall beloiv the critical temperature prior to discharge ot the rail from the receptacle clamps so that the heat remaining in the rail in leeing redistributed Will not raise the temperature in the rails above the critical temperature. rlthe rails B are retained in clamped relations on the receptacle through a movement o't substantially one-halt rotation ot the receptacle so that when the rollers 44 escape the cam Wall 45h the Weight of the rails will move the clamps outwardly to permit their tree discharge on the receiving platform C as shown in Fig. 2.

The resilient mounting ot the clamp arms 3l will permit a limited movement thereof When in clamped position relative to the receptacle to provide for partial contraction and expansion ot the rails but such movement Will not be suHifcient to permit the escape of the rails from the clamps until the rollers 4:4 are free of the cam tace 451. Also by the partition Wall 23 rails oit dilierent lengths may be mounted in series upon the receptacle, and in the case ot ay relativelyT short rail the valves 25 controlling communication between the chamber 1G and either oit the chambers 2l and 21 will alone be operated to permit the tloW of hardening tluid from the chamber 16 to either outer chamber. y

It is not intended that this invention should be limited by the terms herein employed or the time periods in applying the hardening medium to the rails, it being also understood that working conditions may necessitate various changes in the details of construction Without departing from the spirit et the broad invention. lVhen the rails are delivered from the receptacle, the same are slightly cambered and during the cooling ot the base flange sections thereof the same are partially straightened by the natural hardening ot the base flanges, but it is to be understood that suitable devices may be employed Jfor tinishing the rails in exact alinement as may be desired.

The invention broadlyv includes an apparatus for moving the rails during 'the hardening process thereof and also moving a re- -ceptacle containing the tempering medium.

method and apparatus employed to aecomplish the results.

llVhat is claimed as new is:-- y

l. The method ett hardening steel rails atteirolling' while the temperature ot the rail is above the critical temipieraturelconsisting in moving' the hardeningv mediun'i during treatment ot the rail and maintaining the same relation to the rail when directing' the hardeningT medium thereon.

2. The. method of hardening' steel rails after rolling' While the temperature ot the rail. is above the critical temperature, consisting in rotating the hardening' medium. during treatment ot the rail. y

3. The methody oit hardening steel rails atter rolling' while the temperature ot the rail is above the critical temperature. con- Sistine' in moving vthe rails during treatment thereot and directin the hardening medium onlyy on the heads ot the rails.

4t. The method ot hardening steel rails alter rolling While. the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature7 consisting' in moving the rails in an arcuate path during; treatment thereof and directine; the hardeningy medium only on the heads et the rails.

5. The method ot hardeningY steel railsI atter rollingr while the temperature o' the rails is above the critical temi'ierature, consisting' in mount-ine' the rails on a moving; receptacle. containing a hardening` medium. and moving! the receptacle and rails during' treatment there-ot,

6. The method of hardening: steel rails after rollingY vvhile the temperature ot the rails is above the critical temperature, consisting;` in sinniltaneousl).v moving a body ot hardeningmedium and the rails.

7. The method of hardening steel rails atter rolling' ivhile the temperature ot the rails is above the critical temperature. consisting in successivel;Y delivering the rails to a moving receptacle cont ainingr a. hardening medium. and supplyingr the hardening' medium directlyY to the head ot the rails While supported on the moving' receptacle. 'y

S. Apparatus for hardening' steel rails While the tennperature of' the rails is above the critical temperature. includingr a moving' receptacle containing air, eas or elastic tinid and constructed for directing the hardening medium only on the heads thereof.

ILO

9. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotating receptacle containing air,` gas or elastic.l iiuid.

l0. Apparatus tor hardening steel rails While the temperature 'of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a movable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, and means associated With the receptacle lor supporting rails thereon to be hardened in a manner to cause the hardening medium to be directed only on the heads oit the rails. i

11, Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotatable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, and means associated with the receptacle for supporting` rails thereon to be li ard cned,

12. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature ot the rails is above the critical temperature, including a movable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, means associated with the receptacle ior supporting rails thereon to be hardened,

y and means carried by the receptacle adapted to ybe operated by the rails to permit the iiow of the hardening medium onto the rails.

13. Apparatus lor hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above i the critical temperature, including a movable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, means associated with the receptacle for supporting rails thereon to be hardened, and means carried by the receptacle adapte-d to be automatically operated upon the mounting of rails on the receptacle to permit the flow of the hardening medium in the receptacle onto the rails.

14;. Apparatus for hardening steel rails "while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a movable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, and means associated With the receptacle for supporting rails thereon to be hardened in a manner to cause the hardening medium to be cirected only upon the heads of the rails.

15. Apparatus for hardening vsteel rails While the temperature ot the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotatable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, means associated with thereceptacle for supporting rails thereon to be hardened` and means carried by the receptacle adapted to be operated by the rails to permit the tlow of the hardening medium onto the rails.

16. Apparatus for. hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotatable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic `fluid, means associated with the receptacle for supporting rails thereon to be hardened,-

and means carried by the receptacle adapted to be automatically operated upon the mounting of rails on the receptacle to permit the iiow of the hardening medium in the receptacle onto the rails.

17. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotatable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, spaced sets of longitudinally alined rail engaging clamps carried by the receptacle, and means for holding the clamps in closed position during partial rotation of the receptacle,`

18. Apparatus i''orhardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotatable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, spaced ,sets of longitudinally alined rail engaging clamps carried by the receptacle, means for holding the clamps in closed position during partial rotation of the receptacle, and means associated With the receptacle adapted to be operated when the clamps move the rails to clamped position to permit the flow of hardening Inedium in the receptacle onto the rails.

19. Apparatus for hardening steel railswhile the temperature of the rails is above the criticaltemperature, including a movable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, means associated With the receptacle for supporting rails thereon to be hardened in a manner to cause the hardening medium to be directed only upon the heads of the rails, and means for releasing the rail supporting means.

20. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotatable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic fluid, means associated with the rece tacle for supporting rails thereon to e hardened, and means for releasing the rail supporting means.

21. Apparatus `tor hardening steel rails vvhile the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a movable receptacle containing air, gas or elastic liuid, means associated with the receptacle for supporting rails thereon to be hardened, means carried by the receptacle adapted to be operated by the rails to permit the lion' of the hardening medium onto the rails, and means Jfor releasing the rail supporting means.

22. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above vthe critical temperature, including a movable receptacle containing air, gas or elasticvluid, means associated With thevrecepvtacle for supporting rails thereon to be hardened, means carried by the receptacle adapted to be automatically operated upon the mounting of rails on the receptacle to permit the flow of the hardening medium. in the receptacle onto the rails, and means for releasing the rail supporting means.

28. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature including a rotatable receptacle, rail clamps carried bythe receptacle, longitudinally extending peripherally spaced pockets formed on the outer face of the receptacle for the reception of the rail heads, and valve devices carried by the receptacle adapted to be engaged by the rails to permit the flow of hardening medium from the receptacle into the pockets for contact with the rail heads.

24. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is` above the critical temperature including a rotatable receptacle. rail clamps carried by the receptacle, longitudinally extending periph-'s erally spaced pockets formed on the outer face of the receptacle for the reception of `the rail head, valve devices carried by the receptacle adapted to be engaged by the rails to permit the flow of hardening medium from the receptacle into the pockets for contact with the rail heads, and means for moving the clamp arms to closed position and. permitting a subsequent release thereof.

25. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature including a rotatable receptacle, rail clamps carried by the receptacle, longitudinally extending peripherally spaced pockets formed on the outer face of the receptacle for the reception of the rail heads, spaced webs Within the pockets for supporting the rails, and means for moving the clamp arms to closed position and permitting a subsequent release thereof.

26. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperatureJ including a movable receptacle, longitudinally extending peripherally spaced pockets carried by the receptacle. rail supporting webs Within the pockets, and valve devices for controlling communication between the interior of the receptacle and the pockets adapted to be operated upon the reception of a rail in the pocket.

27. Apparatus for hardening tempering steel rails While the temperature of the .rails is above the critical temperature` including a movable receptacle, longitudinally extending peripherally spaced pockets carried by the receptacle, rail supporting Webs Within the pockets, valve devices for controlling communication between the interior of the receptacle and the pockets adapted to be operated upon the reception of a rail in the pocket, and means carried by the receptacle for engaging a rail to position the same in a pocket.

28, Apparatus for bhardening steel rails l while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a receptacle, a stub shaft supporting one end of the receptacle, a journal bearing for said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pipe for conveying a hardening medium extending into the receptacle from the opposite end thereof, said receptacle being journaled upon said pipe, a rigid bearing for said pipe, means for controlling con'nnunication between the interior of the receptacle and the atmosphere, and rail engaging clamps carried by the receptacle.

29. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a receptacle, a stub shaft supporting one end of the receptacle, a journal bearing for said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pipe for conveying a hardening medium extending Yinto the receptacle from the opposite end thereof, said receptacle being journaled upon said pipe, a rigid bearing for said pipe, means for controlling communication between the interior of the receiitaclc and the atmosphere, and rail engaging clamps carried by the receptacle, said means includinga plurality of valves each carrying a stem extending outwardly of the casing and adapted to be operated by a rail supported on the casing.

30. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a receptacle, a stub shaft supporting one end of the receptacle, a journal bearing for said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pipe for conveying a hardening medium extending into the receptacle from the oppositie end thereof, said receptacle being journaled upon said pipe, a rigid bearing for said pipe, means for controlling connnunication betvveen'the interior of the receptacle and the ati'nosphere` rail engaging clamps carried by the receptacle, said means including a cylindrical partition Wall within the casiing dividing the casing into inner and outer chambers, said partition having valve seats therein, tensioned valves mounted on said seats and each carrying a stem projecting outwardly of the casing Wall and adapted to be operated by a rail mounted on the casing.

3l. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical ten'iperature, including a receptacle, a stub shaft supporting one ond of the receptacle, a journal bearing for said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pipe for conveying a hardening medium extending into the receptacle from the opposite end thereof, said receptacle being journaled upon said pipe, a rigid bearing for said pipe, means for controlling communication between the interior of the receptacle and llu lill) atmosphere, rail engaging Clamps carried by the receptacle, said last named means including a cylindrical partition wall within the casing dividing the casing into inner'and outer chambers, sa'd partition having valve seats therein, tensioned valves mounted on saidr seats and each carrying a stem projecting outwardly oit the casing wall and adapted to be operated by a rail mounted on the casing, and a central transverse partition dividing the cl amber between the Ycylindrical partition wall and the casing Wall into nori-communicating lateral chambers.

32. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a receptacle, a stub shaft supporting one end of the receptacle, a journal bearing for said sha-tt, means tor rotating said shaft, a pipe for conveying a hardening medium extending into the receptacle from the opposite end thereof, said receptacle being journaled upon said pipe7 a rigid bearing for said pipe, means tor controlling communication between the interior of the receptacle and the atmosphere, rail engaging clamps carried by the receptacle, rail receiving pockets extending longitudinally of the receptacle, sail last named means including valve stems extending into said pockets and adapted to he engaged by rails mounted on the receptacle to open the valves and permit the flow ot hardening medium within the receptacle onto the rails.

33. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature, including a rotat` able receptacle, a cylindrical partition wall within the receptacle, means for supplying tempering medium within the cylindrical partition wall, a transverse partition wall separating the chamber between the partition wall and casing into separate compartments, and means for independently controlling communication between the interior of the cylindrical partition wall and the separate compartments.,

34. Apparatus tor hardening steel rails while the temperature ot the-rails is above the critical temperature, including means 'for containing a hardening medium and pivotally mounted rail supporting devices carried by said means.

35. Apparatus tor hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature ineiuding means ifo-r containing a. hardening medium, and radially movable rail supporting devices carried by said means for engaging the base flanges and webs of the rails and constructed in a manner to cause the hardening medium only to iow upon the heads ot the rails.

36. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature including means for containing a hardening medium, means controlling the discharge or" hardening medium therefrom, and rail supporting devices carried by the lirst named means adapted to move the rails into engagement with the second named means to release the hardening medium and cause same to How only on the heads of rails.

37. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the crit-ical temperature including means for containing a hardening medium, means controlling the discharge of hardening medium therefrom embodying parallel rows of spring valves, and rail supporting devices carried by the first named means adapted to move the rails into engagement with said valves to release the hardening medium and cause same only to flow upon the heads of rails.

38. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the crit-ical temperature including means for containing a hardening medium, means controlling the. dicharge ot hardening medium therefrom, means for delivering the hardening medium axially of the first named means and constituting a support therefor, and rail supporting devices carried by the lirst named means adapted to move the rails into engagement with the second named means to release the hardening medium and cause same to flow only on the heads ot rails.

39. Apparatus for hardening steel rails While the temperature of the rails is above the critical temperature including a drum containing a. hardening medium, supports :tor the opposite ends of the drumsj one of the supports being a tubular bearing having lateral ports opening into the drum, means for controlling the discharge ot hardening medium from the drum, and rail supporting devices adapted to move the rails into engagement with said means to release the hardening medium 'from the drum and cause same only to tiow upon the heads ot rails.

40. Apparatus for hardening steel rails while the temperature of the rails is above the critical ten'iperature including a drum for containing a hardening medium, a tubular axial support for the drum having ports therein for delivering the hardening mediuin to the drum, longitudinally extending parallel rows of spring valves for controlling the discharge of hardening medium from the drum, and longitudinally extending parallel rows of rail supporting devices adapted to move the rails into engagement with the valves to release the hardening medium from the drum and cause same only to liow upon the heads of rails.

4l. Apparatus for hardening steel rails including rail supporting means supplied ltlO with a hardening medium under pressure and constructed to discharge the tempering medium radially thereof7 and means for delivering rails to the supporting means.

42. Apparatus for hardening the heads of steel rails including rail supporting means supplied with a, hardening inedinin and constructed to discharge the hardening n'iedimn radially thereof, means for delivering rails fo the supporting means, and means carried by the supporting nre-ans adapted to be engaged by the rails to release the hardening lnedinni and permit radial discharge only1 on the heads of rails.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CHARLES A. EWING. 

